A few days later officially announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the year and after his participation in ‘Six Kings Slam’ In Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Rafa Nadal gave an extensive interview to the newspaper AS in which he reviewed his entire career, celebrated his successes and admitted the mistakes made. He hasn’t talked about the future yet. He feels like he’s still a tennis player even though he’s just over a month away from retirement.
From the end, upon the announcement of his withdrawaladmitted that he has been excited to record the video ever since “When it comes to talking, no matter how internalized you are, you really realize that there is no going back, what there is,” although he also admits that “if I could go back, I would change, without a doubt. But I think in the end I did what I should do most of the time, which is to live every moment with passion, with passion, with intensity, always trying to improve and have the appropriate attitude.”
Regarding damages, that definitely marked his career and was, without a doubt, a major factor in making the decision to retire, Nadal maintains that “It is clear that I have missed more than all my rivals, in terms of opportunities to win Grand Slams, but the truth is that it happened to me. I never thought that ‘if I could have done it ‘ or ‘ if I didn’t have’ (those injuries) It was and, with it, I’ve had a career I never imagined and I’m much happier.”
Exactly, these injuries can They prevented him from becoming the tennis player with the most Grand Slams in historybut it’s something that Nadal doesn’t give too much credit to: “Honestly, I’ve never been more satisfied than Federer with having 22 (Grand Slam titles) and he has 20. And I don’t think I’d be more satisfied or happy if I had 25, one more than (Djokovic’s) ). ) 24. I say it from the bottom of my heart Of course I would like to be 25, without a doubt, because this is the sport, trying to be the best together.
Looking back on his long and successful career, Rafa’s rings are not missing admit your mistakes: “Of course I would change things, obviously. Yes, of course, it would just be missing. I regret it. Those who say no, that they wouldn’t change anything, are too arrogant. Of course I made a lot of mistakes. in my career and in my life too , I know assuming and hoping”, although he highlights that “I always tried to do things as I felt and there was a good intention of me to have more problems. “Yes, but it also went well many times and I ended up winning very important tournaments. 12 Grand Slams.”
Reviewing a career as extensive and successful as Rafa Nadal’s is no easy task, but if the Spaniard has to stay in some special moments, he stands out “Roland Garros 2006, because it was the first year after the foot injury. Really, and this is not to make an epic story, it’s real, we didn’t think that I would play tennis again at a competitive level. And then they. key in my Wimbledon 2008 race, the Olympic Games that year, which was also very nice throughout 2013, because after 2012 when I was from Wimbledon to Viña del Mar without being able to play and I still had a lot of knee pain, everything that happened was very emotional. .. And Australia 2022 is the most exciting thing I’ve ever been to.”
About the tennis players who will succeed the so-called ‘Big Three’ (Djokovic, Nadal and Federer)the Balearic Islander is clear “Alcaraz and Sinner are at the top, I don’t see any rival who can continue to mirror them. What will make them great is to last over time and come to a time that transcends the sport, that people really go to see the matches, not only because they like tennis, but also because they themselves go to see the characters.
Returning to the moment of his retirement, he highlighted the importance of being able to do it while playing and more in a tournament as special to him as the Davis Cup and representing his country: “In 2004, through Davis, I had the first great joy as a professional tennis player. And ending again in the final stage of the Cup, for me is a good way. And I hope that it will end positively , regardless of whether I play or not.”
Finally, asked about Who has been the most difficult rival of your entire career?Nadal has no doubts: “Djokovic is the player I play the most, but, for me, my biggest rival is Federer.”
Rafa Nadal’s words.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
